St. Paul Street West (Regional Road 81) - GO Station Precinct Development Project
All Niagara Region projects
About the project
The Go Station Precinct project is a combined scope of work of four projects that Niagara Region and the City of St. Catharines are working on.
The works as part of the overall project include:
- St. Paul Street West CNR Bridge replacement (Niagara Region)
- St. Catharines Train Station / Transit Hub site works (Niagara Region)
- Station access road from Ridley Road to the Train Station / Transit Hub (Niagara Region and City of St. Catharines)
- Ridley Road reconstruction (City of St. Catharines)
These projects have been grouped for faster and more efficient construction. Separately, they would take up to seven years to complete. By combining them under one project, they are expected to be done within three years.
Niagara Region is leading the project because of its close relation to the St. Catharines Train Station redevelopment to a multi-model transit hub. Improvements to access the transit station via Great Western Street will be addressed.
Bridge replacement
Niagara Region completed a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment to replace the St. Paul Street West CN Rail Bridge in St. Catharines.
The bridge was originally built in 1922. It has undergone extensive inspection and evaluation showing it needed immediate replacement.
Load restrictions and lane closures were put in place in December 2022 due to its condition. In November 2023, Niagara Region and Canadian National Railway closed the bridge to all vehicles. This was due to the continuing deterioration of the structure and the significant risk to the health and safety of the public.
The replacement will address the aging infrastructure. It will also improve the roadway's vertical alignment and the retaining walls on all bridge approaches.
Project update
The Region has worked with the bridge owner, Canadian National Railway, and Bell Canada to have their utilities removed. Bell completed this work in September 2024.
In November 2024, the existing bridge was dismantled and removed, followed by construction of the new bridge.
Work to construct the bridge has been prioritized for completion within the overall project. It is expected to reopen to one-way traffic by the end of December 2025.
Project timeline
february 7, 2019 - Completed
Notice of commencement
april 3, 2019 - completed
Public Information Centre #1
june 12, 2019 - completed
Public Information Centre #2
September 12, 2019 - Completed
Notice of study completion
September 12 to October 11, 2019 - completed
Project file report filed for 30-day review and comment
november 2019 - completed
Start detailed design
Summer 2020 - completed
Relocate natural gas infrastructure
2021 - completed
Acquire property
November 8, 2023 - Completed
Public information open house
November 20, 2023 - Completed
Bridge is closed to vehicles, but remains open to pedestrians and cyclists
April 2024 - completed
Issue tender for demolition of properties at 96 St. Paul St. and 179 St. Paul Cres.
June 2024 - completed
Issue tender for the GO Station precinct development project
July 2024 - completed
Close tender for the GO Station precinct development project
August 2024 - Completed
Demolition of properties at 96 St. Paul St. and 179 St. Paul Cres.
August 2024 - completed
Council approval to award construction contract
September 25, 2024 - Completed
Open house
September 2024 - Completed
Bell Canada completes relocation
October 2024 - Completed
Start construction for the GO Station precinct development project
November 18 to 20, 2024 - Completed
Close St. Paul Street Bridge for demolition
November 2024
Start access road construction. Start redevelopment of the western part of the station site (transit hub and parking area).
December 2024
Open access road and close Great Western Road to allow construction of new approach for the bridge on St. Paul Street. Only permit station access via access road with detours in place. Start bridge construction.
Spring 2025
Start Ridley Road construction
December 2025
Reopen bridge to a minimum of one-way traffic and pedestrians
August 2026
Complete bridge construction, station redevelopment and Ridley Road reconstruction
Contact
David Lampman, C.E.T
Manager, Capital Projects, Transportation Engineering
Niagara Region
905-980-6000 ext. 3644
Email Dave Lampman
Traffic Information
Westbound detour:
- St. Paul Street West > Pelham Road > Louth Street (Regional Road 72)
Eastbound detour:
- St. Paul Street West > Louth Street > Pelham Road (Regional Road 69)
Measures to reduce traffic impacts in the neighbourhoods:
- Temporary speed humps on Henrietta Street and Ridley Road
- Partial road closures that allow local traffic only
Reports and Documents
Project File Report
- Project file report
- Existing drawings
- Bridge inspection results
- Geotechnical Report
- Stage 1 Archaeological Report
- Cultural Heritage Evaluation Report
Public open house - Nov. 8, 2023
Public open house - Sept. 25, 2024